Wire-fence machine.



J. A. HOLMQUIST. i WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.4. 1912.

1,682,697'. Patented 130030,1913.

10 SHEETS-SHIIET l.

ym M w Jewnflfa migaJ l a l J. A. HOLMQUIST. WIRE FENCE MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MARA, 191 2.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

l0 SHEET S-S HEBT 2.

Il'I 'm @im @fami J. A. HOLMQUIST.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4, 1912.

1,082,697. I Patented Deo.30,1913.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

- :www

J. A. HOLMQUIST.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE. v

A PZPLIUATION FILED MAR.4, 1912.

1,682,653? Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

4 iff" @im @if l 'All u -ff Jai/n m4915215 6. 6; 3f@

:L A. HOLMQUIST. WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPLIGAToN FILED MAR-4, 19124 1,082,697. l l Patented 1560.30, 1913.

10 SHEETSHSHEET 5.

Ill '/TNESSES, I.f\4 VEA' TOR.

,cid

Www I ggzlohludlolu's IJ. A. HOLMQUISTE WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPLICATION PILBD'MAR. 4. 1912.

1,982,697. Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

1o SHE'ETSSHEET J. A. HOLMQUIST.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPLIGATIGN FILED MAIL/4, 1912.

1,082,697', Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

10 SHEETS-SHEET7l gli@ N l o f o mgm J. A. HOLMQUIST. WIRE PENG-z MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MARA. 1912.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

l0 SHEETS-HEBT B.

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J. A. HOLMQUIST. WIRE FENE MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR.4[1912.

1,082369'7, Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

WIZINESS/LIS,

l (5MM- J. A. HOLMQIST. WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

AEPLIGATION FILED MARA, 1912.

1,()8269'7D Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

10 SHEETS-SHEET l0.

d4 a .4.5 60 n l 54 J IIVVEN'IUR.

WIDVSSES;

rm'l "BEIGE- JOHN A. HOLMQUIST, F JOHNSTGVN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO CAMBRIA STEEL COMANY, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA. n

WIRE-FENCE MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pat9ntedDec 30, 1912? Application filed March 4, 1912. Serial No. 681,397.

Be it known that I, Joris A. Homroiiis'r, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of 1lohnstoivn, county of Camhri; and Stale cf Pennsylvania, have invented certain nenv and useful Improvements in llyire-l `ence Machines and the manufacture of wire fencing thereby; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exactdescription of the inventiomsuch as.

l from each other to suit thegpurpose intended,

and these strand Wires are connected' together by cut sta-y-Wireseach of. which is of .slightly greater length than the distance hetwcen the centers of the adioining strand- Wires which it spans; and the ends of said cutstay-ivires are coiled around the extreme or marginal strand-Wires which ultimately forni the top'and bottom ofthe fence, and' intercoiled around the intermediate strandf wires where two stays are connected to the same at about the same location. I

Certain of the obiects of my invention vrelate to mechanism for, and manner of feeding stay-wires, cutting olf sections of the' stay-wires from continuous lengths of Wire` therefor, delivering the sta-ys to the coilers, vileeding and taking up the strand\vires, and crimping the strandwires on a skeleton cylinder.

Other objects of my inventioii relate to the construction and arrangeni stayvvire guides, swinging knives and pushertlnger-hars and coilers for-stay-Wires, shields for coilers, pressune feed rolls and cams and levers therefor, adjustabletake-up arrangements, delayed motion devices yfor ,swinging knives, adjustable guides, indicator for measuring the -ivireefence' and other ,mechanismshown or described herein.-

Referring now to the accompanying te yconnection between the knife-holderbar and sheets of draWingsnhi'ch form Apart of this specification and-on vwhich. like characters@ represent like'parts: Figure l lis a side elevation of my machine; Fig. 2 is la front velevation thereof; Figs. 3 and et are detailed views showing one of the arms of my' adjustable take-up mechanism and the vway o f l mounting it, 'together with the adjustable' swinging take-up roller and one of its lbearing lolocks.A Fig.A 5 is a Vrear elevation of my,

machine; Figs. 6 and 7 are detailed vieivs of one end .of the upper take-'up roller and one of its stationary hearings; Fig. 8 is a. vertical f vlongitudinal sectional elevation taken on the' line VXIIITVHI of Fig. 2. Fig.` Slis a vertical longitudinal sectional 'elevationof' a por# tion of myinachine taken on the saline line as inoreclearly show the mechai'iisnrs for feeding, guiding, cutting, pushing and coilingv the stay-w1res and the coq-elated parts. Fie.

.1U is a top plan vieiv of aportion of the maf ing pusher-linger-loarV which f'carries` other oppositely' operating pusher z; lingers, the

coilers `and the adjacent parts ofthe machine showing lthe front ends ofthe stay-wires in the positions which they will assumer just before they'are cut into short lengths. 'Fig 11 is a transverse sectionalv elevation taken on the line Xl-XI of Fig. l0, showing the its eccentric rod, the elongated eye inthe end of which rod provides a slight lost or de layed motion forreasons which will herein-Y after appear. Fig. 1Q isa top planl'view of a port-ion' o`f the guide-tables, the shearing, ing and ceiling mechanism, which shows stay-Wires `cut into lengths With their ends pushed'and swung againstthe strandwires over the coilers, these stay-Wires `being in the position which they Will as'suinejust when the coilers are raised or movedinto connection with the ends thereof. Fig. 13- isa vertical sectional elevation, on an en- -Fg- 8 but drawn on an enlarged scale to' larged scale, of one of the coilers, the liftingL i loar and the lifting-arm .secured thereto forl raising and lowering the coilers,'one of the pusher-fingers mounted on'the pusher-fingerbar, the back cross-harand adjacent parts; this View being taken on the line XIII-XIII of Fig. 14:, In this gure, the 1119 4o fatA the proper .time and place. F ig. 24 is an enlarged .perspective `view of one ofthek vin elevation in their lowered positions and also .indicated in dotted lines in their raised positions. In this view the section through the guide-table and the stationary knife is taken just in frontof the stay-wire so as to more clearly show it, while the coilers and other parts are shown in elevation for clearness of illustration. Fig.' 15 is a top plan view of the feed roll mechanism for the staywires, thev coperating pressure-roll holders being shown in cross section. Fig. 16 is a cross section, on an enlarged scale, of one of the smaller feed-rolls for the stay-wires and its coperating pressure-roll geared thereto; Fig. 17 is a. top plan view of the same, while Fig. 18 is cross section of one of the larger feed-rolls afor the stay-wires arid its coperating pressure-roll geared thereto. Fig. 19 is a front elevation of the beveled-gear shaft and gearing for rotating the coilers.

Fig. 2O is a vert-ical cross sectional elevation of the .crimping-cylinder taken on the line XX-.'-XX of Fig. 21 and Fig. 21 is a central longitudinal sectional elevation of one end Y of the crimping-cylinder taken on the line XXI- XXId ofFig. 20; Fig'. 22'is a top plan view of one end of the crimping-cylinder. Fi 23 isy a detailed .fragmentary elevation-,s owing the crimping mechanism lv'and the' cams for returning the crimpingmeinbersso that the vjaws in the'4 crimpingbars will be free to receive the strand-wires crimping-'members pivoted on the 'crimpingbar adjacent' yto one lof the jaws thereof.

Fig; 25 is a detailed view taken on the line XXV- XXV of Fig. 26 showing one set of the shearing mechanism for cut-ting the stay wires and pushing them into posltion against the strand-wires and in this illustration the swinging knife-holder-bar is shown in cross section andthe other parts in eleva'- tion. In this view the movable knife-holder and knife areshown by full lines'in the cutting `position and are indicated in dotted lines 1n the position which they occupy during part of the, movement of retraction, the construction being such that the knife automatically swings over the stay-wire to `clear` it on the return movement, thereby allowing the stay-wire feed to be continuousl and without interruption. Fig. 26 is a detailed view ofy the shearing and pushing mechanism shown in Fig. 25 and elsewhere, this figure being taken on the line XXVI XXVI of Fig. 25. Fig. 27 iS a top plan view of one side of the shearing mechanism with the upper'part of the movable knife-holderbar removed in 'order to show the interior construction. Fig. 28 is a transverse section through the swinging knife-holder and knife, taken on the line of the adjustable set-bolt which connects these two portions together. Fig. 29 is a side elevation of a pivoted hand-lever with the segmental toothed rack and the 'pawl for engaging the same, which form part of the apparatus for tightening or slackening the. belt 'which operates the winding-barrel on which the finished fence is coiled; Fig. 30 is a front elevation of the same, showing a portion of the sideframe in section, and Fig. 31 is a section on the line XXXIXXXI of Fig. 29. Fig. 32v is a front elevation showing the details of an indicator attached to my machine for measuring and indicating the amount of length of fencing manufactured thereby.

Referring now to the various characters of reference on the drawings: The baseplate is indicated as 1, on which are mounted two slide .frames of 'similar construction, one

righti and one. left. These two .side-frames are each composed of 'a main side-frame 2 and a forward standard 3, the tops of which yare 'connected by an arch-bar or cross-frame 4. Upon the top of this arch-bar 4 at an lintermediate part thereof, is bolted atop side-frame casting 5. The two side-frames, mounted on the base-.plate 1, are spaced apart by means of the pipe-separators 6 through which pass the tie-rods with nuts on their outer ends as shown. -Upon these sideframes numerous bearings for journals, seats and supports for other parts are provided.

Power' is transmitted to the machine from a -suitable source (not shown) by means of the main driving-belt 7 and the pulley 8 `on .one end .of the main driving-shaft 9 which extends transversely of the machine and has on its opposite end, a pinion 10 meshing with the outer gear-wheel 11 on the cam-shaft 12 on whichfshaft the cams 13 are mounted for liftingl the coilers. On the opposite end of thev cam-shaft 12 is keyed a pinion 18 which meshes with a pinion 19 on the feed-roll shaft 20. This feed-roll "shaft 20 is of slightly smaller diameter at one end to accommodate the smaller feed-rolls thereon and is provided with suitablebe'arings which are mounted on' an' angle-bar 21 which. extends trans- J versely `of the' machine, with its opposite ends resting on, and bolted tothe main 51deframes 2.`

Referring to Fig. 15, looking from right to left, each of the first eight feed-rolls 22 is constructed as show n ,in Figs. 16 and 17 with two peripheral grooves 23 which enable vitltobe reversed when the first groove becomesdefective from wear, and, on account of the greater width of the feed-roll, to ac-' commodate twol grooves, it can be supported on, and. keyed to the shaft to better advantage than a narrower roll". At the side'of each feed-roll 22 and also keyed to the feedandroperateswith its companion feed-rolls to advance fthe wire between them; The o'therthree'- feed-rolls'27. are larger and' each V.has single peripheral groove Q8, and is securely riveted to a gear 29 which is mounted on, and keyed to the vfeed-roll shaft 20.'

Each of these gears 29 meshes with a gear 30, which latter is riveted to the pressureroll 31 as shown in Fig. 18. lEach of the pressure-rolls 31has a groove in its periphery to register with the 'opposite groove of the corresponding rfeed-roll. The pressurerolls 2G and 31 with their respective gears 25 laiidvBO are'held in pcsition by the holder 32 which consists of two flat bars, between which, the pressure-rolls and gears are revolulilymouiited. These bars are each pro-v vided withia pivot-bolt 33, passing through heir` lowerendsand .through a bracket as shown, attached Ato the side of the anglefbar 21..,` Aft the upper end of the holder is a clamping device comprisingthelink 34, one endet` which is pivotally attached to an angle-har and. its intermediate portion passes between the two, members of theV holder :ind-has a cani-lever 36 attached 'to its outer end.., Between this=camlever 36- and holder- 32is a U-shaped spring 3T by means of which a piessure is maintained on the` wire between the pressure-roll `and the feed-roll, which pressure canbe released by raising the cam-lever36.` .The pinion 10 on the main driving-shaft, also meshes with a and tw`o end brackets 4G withfcap members 47all of which forni -the ways for the reciprocating sliding knife-holder-bar 41.

The movable knife-holder .48, as shown more clear-ly in Figs. 25 to 28 inclusive. is

`pivoted at 49. in .a longitudinal circular groove- 50, half of wliichis. formed in each side of the sliding knife-liolder-bar 41, said bar beng composed of two partsl and'Q bolted together. Collars 53 are placed-on .either side of thepivot 49 and rigidly secured to. the knife-holder as shown. -The' parl. 51 of the sliding bar has a slot 54 and a 'leaf-"spring :Katobear upon the. shank #t the knife-holder 48. The movable knife fitted-into a .dove-tailed recess 5,7 in the outer end of the knife-holder48 and is ad'ustably held in place byineans of a setbo t 58 which passes through a slot in the knife-holder, while the knife-edge 59 projects from the lower side thereof. The

spring 55 normally holds the knife-edge 59 always in the proper aliuenient-or cutting the stay-wire, while' the -slot 54 allows enough lateral play to enable it to turn on its pivot and pass over the-next stay-wire on the return stroke ofthe knife. The

lower part of the knife-holder bar' 52 also has a slot 60 and the frontcross-bar 44 has a notch G1 on its. top'edge to further' guide the knife-holder, and hold the movable knife against the side oi the stationary knife (32 which latter is held, by means of a set-bolt 63, in a recess on the side of a stationary knife-holder 64.-' The knife-holder-bar 41 is reciprocated by means of the eccentrics 40, one at each end oi 'the bar, the ends of the rods of which have an elongated eye as shown in Fig. 11, to provide a. small amount of lost motion. This lost' motion. or delayed motion, due to the elongated eye, is provided so that when a stay-wire section has been cut ott' and pushed against the strand-wir.es,v

the coilers will have time to vgrasp the ends of the stay-wire before it is released by the return movementot the kuiten In other words, this lconstruct-ion is such that the knife temporarily holds the stay-wwe 4in proper location for the coilers to. grasp its ends, and when this is done, the knife vbeginsits return movement. The ends ot the rods for the eccentrics which reciprocate the sliding pusher-nger-bar 43, may. also have elongated eyes of the. same construction for a similar purpose. ing pusher-finger-bar 43 vis mounted in the slide-ways 66 on the back cross-bar G7. This pusher-finger-bar 43 has mounted thereon,

a series cf pusher-fingers G8, each-ot' whichv is bent downward and outward, and each has a notch 69 on its outer tace to engage and push the end of a stay-wire into 'position over a coilcr, in coperation with the corresponding knife, which, at about the same time, operates on the other end of thestay-wire, to cut it from the continuous supply of stay-wire stock and push the severed end over its coiler.

Referring nowto Figs. 8 to 14 inclusive,

-tihe strandoviies 70 are taken from large or The slidi bevel-pinions 7G which are keyed to the lower ends of said coiler-spindles 7 2. 'These bevel-pinions 76 mesh'with, and are drivenby the bevel-gears 17 on the shaft 16. The strand-wires, after passing through the coilers,exten`d 'into the sleeves 77 surrounding' of the'sleeve 77 and has a tapered internalbushing' 80 ofhardened steel,.which may be easily withdrawn and a new one substituted in' case Vof wear. The hollow coiler-spindle 72, the sleeve, 77 and the coiler-head 7 8 are driven continuously by means ,of the bevel-gears 17 4and the bevel-pinions 76 in mesh therewith, and 'the ceiling pins are protected normally from coming in contact with the stay-wires, by an annular shield 81, which is bolted to the back crossbar 67 by a rearwardly extending ange as shown. The coiler-spindles' I72 and the sleeve 77 are keyed together by means of a spline 82 which allows the sleeve 77' and coiler-head 78 to be raised and lowered vertically. The lifting-arm 83 is provided with a. series of openings, ineach of which is a bushing surrounding an intermediate portion of the barrel of the sleeve 7 7,. between its annular shoulder 84 and the collar 85 provided with a set-screw 86, as clearly shown forks89 containing Athe anti-friction rollers Y 90 which rest Aon the c'amsl` and is operatedthereby to raise and -lowerthe coilers. Each lifting-rod 88Islides vertically in a bearing on the side of a transverse bearing-bar 91 and a. spring 92 surrounds the lower cnd of each ro`d 88 between the fork- 89 and the transversebearing-bar 91.

The stay-wires 93 are taken from large coils over sheaves (not shown) in the rear of the machine and pass under the rolls 94 mounted on the base plate 1, thence through the lower `guiding-tubes 95 between the feed-rolls 22 or 27 and their respective pressure-rolls 26 and 31, all of which are driven continuously. Each stay-wire is then fed upwardly through an upper guiding-tube 96, curved at its upper end and extending into the opening 97 of the stationary knife-holder 64, thence through the hole 98 in the stationarv knife 62 and into the notch 99 on the guide-table 100` said notch 99 having a narrow neck portion 101. One portion of theA guide-table 100 is made adjustable as at 102 by means of set-bolts 103 v which allow the width of the notch 99 to be regulated as desired, to accommodate wiresshownl in Fig. 10 and is advanced farv enough to be engagedby the notch 69 of the pusher-finger, at which time the pusherfingers 68, mounted on the bar 43, are ad-A vanced forward, by means 'of the eccentrics 42, until they are substantially in the plane `of the backs of the 'strand-wires; at the same4 time thel sliding knife-'holder-bar 41 which carries the knife-holders 48 with the: knife-blades 56, is moved rearwardly by means of the eccentric 40, thereby severing vthe ends of the stay-wires and carrying the end 'of each cut stay-wire rearwardly until it comes in contact with the front of the strand-wire as shownl in Fig. 12.

The middle of each cut stay-wire, where it passes through the neck 101 of the notch 99, is not moved from its position, as the construction and operation are such that the neck 101 acts as'a fulcrum for the cut stay-wire, and only the two ends of the same are swung over the coilers, and this is one of the particularfeatures of my invention.v The coilers are then raised by means of the cams 13 which actuate Vthe spring-pressed 'lifting-rods 88 through the anti-friction `rollers 90 at their lower ends, thereby operating the lifting-bar 87 and the attached lifting arms`83 which surround the coilersleeves 77. As said mechanism raises and lowers the revolving coilers, the c oiling and intercoiling'of the ends of the cut stay-wires around the strand-wires is done during the time when the anti-friction rollers 90 are raised and supported temporarily for ,a brief period ottime at the sam'e elevations by the action of the -most exterior' concentric portions of the/cams A1?. .'During this time the strand-wiresare advancing' slowly,L as hereinafter described, their speed being about such as to permit the coiler fingers to maintain .engagement with the ends of the strand-wires. In other words,-at this time, the strand-wires.areadvancing about as fast as the axial movement on them, in the reverse direction, of the helical coils of cut stays, thereby maintainingv the coilers in connection with the ends of the cut stays and producing neat and close coils thereof. After the ceiling is completed and the coiler heads dre back` within their shields b spring'a cam action, as above describe the fence is movedA forward to crimp the',

-strand-wires, in order to allow for expanthis, the fencing, after leaving the VVcoilers,

passes upwardly and over'a crimping-cylinderlO-t, which is mounted on the shaft 105.4 This crimping-cylinder has two head castings 106 and an intermediate supporting casting 107, all of similar construction,and provided with slots 108 for the reception. of the crimping-bars 109, which are held therein by the bolts 110, which vpass through said crimping bars 109 and throughnotches 11.1 at the sid-es ot the slots S.. These bolts 110 are prevented from falling out', whenA the nuts thereotl are screwed home, by the locking plates 112 located in recesses 113 ,at the sides of the slots as shown in Figs. `2O and i VEuch Critiquing-bar 109 has a number of jaws 114' i'ormed therein at varying dis- Otances apart along its outer edge, adjoining each of which is a substantially U-shaped criuiping-meluber`115 pivoted to the crimping-bar 10.) one criniping-member for each jaw, as shown particularly in Figs. 2() to 24 inclusive.

One l'eg 1113 of each criiupingmiemberll is longer rthan the other leg'thereof and extends beyond the edge o'f the bar 109 to engage the crimping-cam' 11T above the 2@ crin'iping-cylinder Jfor crimping the strand- 'wires There is a series of these cams 117 corresponding to the'various sets of cri1nping-members as shown, and each cam is boltedto a pair of angle-bars 11S, which extend transversely/of the machineand are secured by theirends to the upper surface oi the top `side-frame vcasting 5. i Return can1s`119 aremounted on an anglebar 120 located near the lower part of the s@':crhnping-cylinder'to 'insure the return of the crii-nj'ying-members 115 to positions such that the strand-wires TO may enter the jaws 114. The accompanying and return movements of the crimping-members 115 are automatically accomplished by the revolution ofthe criniping-cylinder. whereby the ends of said vcriirping-members Contact with the crimping-cams and the return cams at the proper times, whereby said crimping 40- member's are swung on their pivots, firstA in one direction',`and then in 'the oppositedirection. i

The movement ot' the strand-wires'v T0 is contin-utms through thenrachine, but variable,andis slower atl the time of coiling the cut stay-wires thereon, in order to give the ceiling pins 7?) time to neatly coil the ends of the stay-wires around the strand-wires; this is accompl' jhed by ineans of the adjust- .50 able take-up device.

vOn an intermedia-te part of the eccentric shaft 35), is keyed a gear 121, which meshes 1N"with the gear 122 mounted on they pull-out `jshaft 123. This pull-out shaft "has also ley'ed thereon, bymeans of a. spline, the adjustable gears 124.125 and 126 which are adapted to mesh'with thegears 127, 128 and 12) respectively, on the inter; ediate shaft 130. The `gears 124 and 127. as shown in mesh iu the drawings. are usedwhenlthe staywires 'are'tobe six inches apart; while the other two sets are used when the staywirrs are to be nine o-r twelve inches apart respectively. rhe gears 124", 125 and 126 can be adjusted and retained in places desired, by the set-bolts 131 so as to be thrown out of, or into-engagement with Vtheir respective mates. Gn the ends ot' the vpull-out sha-tt 123, are keyed short cranks 132, which latter are connected to the swinging talreup arms 133 by thev pitmen 134.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. l, 3, 4, (-3, 7 and 8, the swinging take-up arms have each adjustabl y mounted thereon, a bearing-block 135 which serves as a bearine bearing-blocks 135 are each provided with a projection 13? with a threaded end, which extends through a slot 138 in the take-up arm 133, and a nut and washer securely clamp it in position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The adjustable swinging roll'm'ay be thus secured in any location desired, on the swinging talreeuip arms 133, and the amplitude of its movement thereby varied to suit the other requirements. An. idler roll 139 is mounted inxed bearings on the main side-frame 2 just below theV swinging take-up arm 1,33 andan upper idler roll 140, having outwardly extending spindles 141, is-mounted in permanent bearings formed in theside-frame member 4. rThe Guter ends of these spindles 141 form the bearings from which the take-up arms 133 swing, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6.

It will be obvious, by referring to Figs. 1 and 8, that,-as the adjustable roller 136, mounted on the swinging take-upI arm, is swung inward and outward between the idler rollers 139 and 140 by the pitmen 134 and the cranks 1132, the movement of the fencing will be retarded and accelerated at ea-ch revolution of the crank...ar3n `132.' The revolution ofthe crimping-cylinder is substantially uniform. and continuous, and on this cylinder the strand-wires are clamped and pulled forward accordingly. The interpositio-n of the adjustable take-up mechanism between thecrimping-cylinder and the coile'rs, causes a variable speed ofthe strandwires through the coilers, whereby the strand-wires move more slowly than the average when the stay-wires are coiled thereon, and more quickly than the average during the intervals betweenl the successive ceiling` operations.- After a set ot' cut staywires' are coiled on the strand-wires, the st-randwires are quickly pulled out into an obtuse loop, by the forward movement of the adjustable, take-up roll 136, as shown in Fig. 8,'therebytraversing them atan accelerated rate of speed through the coilers. As the adjustable take-up roll moves backward,

lthe strand-wiresI therefore more more slowly through the coilers, during which time the stay-wires are coiled thereon. During this latter timehthe crimping-cylinder receives the slack orexcess ot strand-wires, delivered to it by reason of this action. YyBy clamping the swinging roll 136 nearer to, or farther for the adjustable swinging roll 136. Thesi :sok

from the lower ends of the take-up arms 138 the amplitude of its movement may be varied and the take-up action and the variable speed of the strand-wires may be accurately adjusted in harmony with the coiling and other operations. I can also adjust this takeup mechanismv so that the strand-wires are stationary during the coiling operation.

On one end of the intermediate shaft 130 is a gear 142 which-meshes with a gear 143 on the crimping-cylinder driving-shaft 144, on the. opposite end of which latter is mount ed a pinion 145 which meshes with the gear 146y keyed on the crimping-cylinder shaft 105 Jfor rotating the same. The crimpingcylinder driving-shaft 144 also -carries a lianged pulley 147 connected by the belt 148 to the pulley 1,49 on one endlof the shaft 150. On the opposite endl of the shaft 150 another flanged belt pulley 151 is keyed, and

connected by the belt 152to the pulley 153 on the stub-shaft 154 of the windingbarrel 155, on which is reeled the completed fend ing after it leaves the crimping-cylinder.

A small sprocket-wheel 156 is attached to one end of the crimping-cylinder shaft 105 and connects thence by means of'a sprocketchain 157 to a larger sprocket-wheel 158 which turnsaan indicator 152 located ,insidev ot the side-frame ormeasuring the length of the fencing ,as it passes over the crimping cylinder.

Fig. 32 is a front elevation of the indicator onv a larger scale than that of the other figures. This indicator'consists of a series of toothed counting wheels meshing with each other and provided with bearings all so arranged that it will register accurately the number of rods and feet of fencing fed orward'by the crimping cylinder. This measuring action is'positive by reason of the fact th at the mechanism on the crimping cylinder firmly takes hold Lit-.and crimps the strand-wires so that the amount of fence which is advanced is correctly recorded by the indicator, which is positively driven Aby the crimping-cylinder. Theindicator has preferably two dials, as` shown in Fig.A 32, the righthand one showing the number of rods, and the lefthand one showing the number et feet; the righthand dial being indicated as 170 and provided with a pointer 4171, while the lefthand dial is marked 172 and is provided wit-h a pointer" 173, the dials being marked and graduated in rods and feet, as shown.` As thecrirn ing-cylinder positively engages the stran wires, this' indicator thus accurately'measures the length of fence, so that the .exact quantity in each roll is known. The indicator referred to, is a register, recorder, or similar device, which is so proportioned and arranged as to show in figures or characters, the lengths of nished fence delivered by the v.ous predetermined distances crimping-cylinder 104 isso arrangedV that f1 A belt tightener 162 for the belt 152is ymain drive-shaft 9 for starting or stopping the machine 4when desired.

In order to enable the machine to make-f" fencing with the' stay-wires lo ated at variit will revolve at a faster rate when it 1s desired to make fencing with stayfwires far apart, and at a slower rate lwhen the staywires are to be nearer together, as the speed of the mechanism for cutting 'and coiling the ends of the stay-wires around the strand- .iyires always 'remains substantially thesame` with respect to that of the main drivingapart, y the shaft. this-end, I have shown three sets` of gearl-ng'for revolving `'the crimping-cylinder 104 at three diiferent speeds, as dei sired, thegeby pulling-l the strand-wires 70 faster or slower through thecoilers, although more sets of gearing may be used,if required.

` As slidwn in Fig. 5, the gears 124 and 127,

mounted o-n the` shafts 123 and 130 respectively, are used when the stay-wires are to be siX inches apart: the. gears 125vand 128 are used when the stay-Wires areto be nine inches apart, andthe gears 126vand 129 are used to produce twelve-inch spacing of stays. As shown in Fig. 5, the gears 124 and 127 are in mesh, whereby the machine is set to make the stays six inches apart, while at i* the same time the other pairs of speed gears are idle.

vHaving thus given the foregoing generall the operation thereof, I` will now further' describe thei operations 'of manufacture and the po1nts'-of"eXcellence of my invention.

The strand-wires 70 are supplied to the machine from large 'coils orreelsthereof (not shown) located to the rear of the machine,

are thence conducted under the roll, 71

thence upwardly through the hollowcoilerspindles 72, thence through the central perforatio-ns in the hollow coiler-heads 78, be-

tween the two coiler-pins 7 Q thereof, which are revolving. continuously during the operation of the machine. At this point the cut vstaywiresare -applied-` to the strand-wires andthe fabric moves upward behind the idler-roll 139, thence in front of the adjust-- ableswinging take-up lroll 136, thence bef hind theidler-roll 140, thence to the revolving crimping-cylinder 104, where the strandwires passmtothe Vjaws'llgl ofthe crimp- ,inglbarsi 10Q-and are'- clampedgand crimped therein --by th swinging -l actie yzoffthe U- .shaped crimpingmehibers Il" action ofA -the crimping-'cam 'I' due to the rimpillbi-Cylt During the revolution' ofth' la-mped' and.

crimping-cylinder,'while t' the same time,

"1i the-crimpinghars therf, s, 2o, 21 22am der continues-its"revolution, the crimpingmemb'ers' 115 more out of engagement with theciumpmgcanis 117 and then swing open by contact',v with the strand-wires as they leave the cylinder. The-,return cams 119 then ffurther.insure the return of all the crimping-members toopen position. The now' completed fencingl .travels diagonalti7 .downward past the supporting,r rolls 1GO .and

161 and is wound-in aroll on the wiudinf'g-A "he completedrol-l o -fenciug taken out and new roll-started bysecuringl the severed ends of the strand-wires on theiu'zinding-barrel, whereupon the machine is started to make another roll. :As 4the' strand-wires are irmlyclampedon the Crim ping-cylind e1'- 104- which moves witha uniform speed of revolution,`'this determines the average speed of the movement.A of the strand-wires and the fence through theA machii'ie, while the .winding-barrel'. 155 Vis revolved by the belt -1-52-wh1ch can be made tighter or looser, as

desired, so as torkeep the fence reasonahl)Y taut, as it' iswound thereon. As the roll of finished fencing` increases in size, the belt. 152 .maybe slight-ly slackenedby the lh,- tightener 162 and appurtenances, so that said belt, ,will slidesomewhat on its pulleys,

while at the same time maintaining the rcquired degree of tautness iu the roll ot fencing. i

y Although the average speed of travel of the strand wiresand .the attached stay- Wires is maintained at a. uniform` speed on the crimping-cylinder, the adjustable takeup roll 13G-provides a means for varying the speed of the strand-wires through the coilers in th following manner :.-As shown ln'Fig. 8 the take-up roll 13G, mounted on its swinging-arms 133, is in its extreme outward positlon, and-'has thereby completed the'formation of an obtuse angular loop'in the strand-wires, which is accomplished while this roll is moving outwardly. This action, together with the continuous movement .of-.the crimping-cylinder 104, causes an accelerated motion of the strand-wires through the coilers, which is so 'timed as to 17 .-thereon. f,

occur' just after .the stay-wireshaye been Acoiled thereon'.- gDuring the return iuovement of. ,the Vadj ustable suixii'gihe", t'z'l-keu-p roll 13 6gfthe .amount 'of fence residing i'n 'the aforesaid obtusel'Y :angular loop, isf' delivered tothe c rinipingfcylinder' so that 'the' pulling;

' speedof the crimping-cylinder?onthe, llower prti'onsgof the. strand-w iresl is. lessenefd-at this time,A and :the s trandwiresjtherefore move ata much`slower"speed liroughfthe coilersf-v While the strandnvires.removing' at this`slower speed through'the coileis,the I ,stay-wires are 'attached thereto, .as elsewhere' described herein', the object and intentionof this variable speed being to sunplrfythe mechanism and to facilitate the Voperation of the coilers. By further adjustment of ,the take-up roll, the mo'\-'e1 neutof the strandwues can be substantially st opped," desired, during the ceiling of the staylwires' thereon.

My adjustableftake-up iol1'136 is capable of being adjusted at various pointson the take-up arms 133 so that -the amplitude of its movement and the times of acceleration' :gid retardation of Ythe longitudinal motion ofthe strandf'wires through thicoilerslcan be closely regulated in conformity withfthe movement of the stay-wires, and hthe action of the coilers 'in seeuring the stay-Wires to thestrand-wires. This is avdelicate and c'ssential feature of my invention, whereb'y the moven'ients ot' the strand-wires.' and Aof the stay-wires in process- 0l:'v application thereto, may be carefullytimed and adjusted to 'produceneat, close coils, .without requirihgthe coilers to vrapidlyv follow the Strand-iviljes;

whilethe coilers varecontinumisly revolving at all tunes during the operatlon ofthe machine. 4

Referring now to the stay-Wires, the malerial for these is supplied from a. number of large coils or reels of wire (not shown) located in the rear of the machine, from which the wires indicated as 93 are-led under-the roll 91 .and pass thence upwardly between the stay-wire feed-rolls 22and 27 and their respective pressure-rolls 2G and'l, all "of which are. provided with semi-circular or segmental grooves as shown. 'The feed-rolls are all mounted (ma feed-roll ,shaft 20 which is driven continuouslyat a uniform rate of speed andeach of the stay-wiresis consequently fed continuously without stoppage or retardation. The diierent feedprolls, however, are. made. of4 various diameters in. .order to supply the exact lengths of staywires to span the different. spaces betweenthe strand-wires`l the reason for this leiug that fences of the character in question are ordinarily madel with strand-wires closer t0- gether at the bottom than at the top, the spacing `gradually increasing from the bottom to the top, lo better serve. the purpose intended.' As the stay-wires pass the continuously operating feed-rolls, they are pushed thereby, into theupper curved guidetube 96, thence through the`hole 98 in' the stationary knife 62 assuming the form .and position indicated in Figs. 10 and 14., As soon as this is done, the movable knives 56 `move` forward and sever the stay-wires `from the long lengths of stock therefor,

lthereby cutting off pieces of the right lengths to span the distances between the adjoining strand-wires, and enough more to forni the coils of the stay-wires thereon. The action of these movable knives 56 is accomplished by means of the mechanism hereinbeforedescribed, and at about the .saine time, the-pusher-ingers 68 engage the. other ends of the now cut stay-wires and by Ythe combined action of the movable knives and the pusher-lingers, the cut stays are swung from their diagonal or angular posi-` tions to positions approximately inthe plane of, and touching the strand-wires, as indi-4 cated i'n Fig. 1'2. Each stay-wire, however, contacts with one strand-wire at` one side o fthe 4fence and an adjoining strand-wire onv the opposite side of the fence. 'In order to lfztbout which the cut stay-wires are swung.

assistthis operation,l the guide-tables 100 are provided with narrow' necks 101 in the, notches 99'thereof, which serve as. -fulcra At about this time the cam 13 on the shaft vl2 operates to raise the coilers, whereby the pins 7 9 thereof engage the downwardly projecting ends 'of ,the stay-wires which overlap each intermediate strand-Wire, or in case of the` marginali-connections, one of each of the pairs' of said pins engages the downwardly projecting ends of the extreme stay-wires where they overlap the marginal top and bottom strands of the fence. The coilers which, duringthe operation .of the machine, are. always and continuously revolving in the same-direction at substantially uniform speed, now intercoil and coil the ends of. the stay-wires around the strandwires during the time .when the coilers are held in' their upward position by the action -of the outer concentric vsurface of the lifting-cam 13, the upward movement of the coilers being preferably only a fraction of an inch. this time, dueto the action-of the adjustable take-up mechanism, as described elsewhere herein, '3 the I strand-wires are moving slowly, orwith delayed motion through theJ coilers, and'ithismotion is capable of exact and careful control to the end desired, so that the fo'wa'rd of translation of the strand-wires .ld-unng the time-of coiling the stay-wires thereon, is so adjusted that it substantially' corresponds to the axial backward of 'theformation ofthe helices or coils of the'stay-wires which are being formed upon the strandwires; all in sucha way vthat the slight forward movement ofthe strand-wires, compensates for the slight backward movement I or growth of thejcoils, whereby smooth-and close coils are "formed, as will be readily understood. v

In order to permit the continuous feeding or pushing of the stay-wires without interruption, the movable knife 56 is mounted on aI swinging knife-holder 48 which .is normally held in cutting position by` means of the spring 55, and thel cutting portion) of the knife 56 is somewhat hook-shaped as shown, the lower part of which projects below the main body thereof. After this hook-shaped projection 59 of. the knife 5G has, by its forward movement, cut the stay'- wire 93 into a cut-stap section, the knife is retracted, and byreason of the slope of the rear of the hook-shaped: portion, it is automatically lifted upward bythe next portion .ofincoming stay-wire, as it passes and slides backwardly over the same, the position at this time being vas shown in dotted lines in Fig'. 25. By reason of this construction, and the continuous movement 'of the stay-wire feed-rolls 22 and 27, the stay-wire feed is continuous at all times during the operation of the machine. After the coilers have been slightly projected up wardfor the purpose of forming the coils as heretofore stated, they drop downward within their shields 81 by the further action of the cam 13, and so remain when the roller 90 rests upon that portion of the cam surface nearest the center of the shaft 12. Vhen the coilers 'are' in this position within their shields, the stay-wires are fed into diagonal positions over-the coilers as heretofore described, without the.,n possibility of stoppage or of dciiection by the coiler-heads or coiler-pns. After the cut stays are' attached to the strand-wires: the partially completed fence is pulled forward withan accelerated movement by vthe combined action of the adjustable take-up roll 136 and the revolution of the crimping-cylinder 104:, as; hereinbefore described. q

In addition to the statements and descriptionsvof my invent-ion made elsewhere herein, a/summary of the follqtvlng points may serve to make the matter Iriore clear: The strand-wires are pulled forward by the -continuously revolving crimping-cylinder which ilo turnswith a substantially uniform motion;'

but, by means of the adjustable take-up vmechanism, the speed of the strand-wires, through duoes to .'ea se of operation. jThere is also an advantage inthe comparatively slight longitudinal movement jof the coilers,t9 keep' them in cohtact with tle stay-wires and thisl vthe coilers, is accelerated after each set'of 'tains the speed of manufacture and contion, which aids in making the machine run easily, Without jar, wear or breakages.

Simplicity and ease ofthe stay-wire feed without waste or interruption, is accomplished by means of the continuously operating stay-wire feed-rolls andV their` companion pressure-rolls, in connection with the swinging-knife which is adapted to be retracted and automatically swung over the next portion of incoming stay-wire, without interfering with the continuity of its feed. Another particular feature of the machine consists in the diagonal manner of feeding the stay-wires over the coilers, then cutting oft' the stay-wires into proper lengths, and then pushing the ends of t-he cut Vstays into posit-ions against the strand-wires by the continued action of the cutting knives which push the severed ends, and .the opposite action of the pusher-lingers on the' other ends which thus swings them into position for the ceiling operation.

A further advantage lies in the manner of, and mechanism for` crimping the strandwires on the crimping-cylinder, whereby waves are made in the strands to allow for contraction and expansion in use and for the further purpose of providing a uniform tension in, and feed of the strand-wires during the manufacture of the fencing7 thereby also equalizing the lengths of the strandwires, so that the finished fabric will be straight. This is accomplished by the method of, and mechanism for crimpingl in connection with the elasticity of the wires themselves, all of which combine tov cause the desired result, as stated.

The general construction and arrangement of the machine frame, as shown in Figs. l and 8, is such that the operator can stand between the two parts thereof, facing the fencing in process of manufacture, and thereby give it the necessary attention, while at the same time, by merely turning around, he cansee and control the winding of the finished fencing on the rel. This 'arrangement is at once compact, convenient and conducive to ease and cheapness of operation.

By varying the distances between the coilers, and between the other portions of the mechanisms which operate upon the various wires, a fence of any proportion can be made, and in case where the machine is constructed to make a wide fence, it may be operated to make two or. more narrower strips of fencing at the same time, all of which will be readily understood. Y

For convenience V.of illustration and delow, etc.,

winding-barscription, I have shown the machine with the axes lof ,the colers placed 'vertically and the strand-wires passing vertically through them, and the stay-wires'finally applied thereto in approximately a horizontall direction,'and in the specication and claims I use the words, vertical, vertically, horizontal, horizontally, angle,' angular, above,` bcit will be readily understoodthat 'these a1'- rangements may be modified and that the relative or absolute positions of the various parts may be varied, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

. Altl'lough I have described and illustrated my invention inV considerable detail, I do not wish to be limited to the enact and'speciic details thereof, as shown and described, but may use such modifications in, substitutions for, or equivalents thereof, as are embraced within the scope of my invention, or as pointed out in the claims.

'Having thus described my invention, what I claim anddesire to secure by United States Letters Patent is 1' 1. In a wire-fence machine, the combination of mechanismfor feeding a plurality of strand-wires with accelerated and retarded motion, mechanism for continuously feeding a plurality of stay-wires diagonally between the strand-wires, mechanism for severing the forward ends of thevsaid stay-wires to form cut-stays, and for swinging the. oppcsite ends of said cut-stays into contact with the opposite Fsides of the adjoining strand-wires, and mechanism -for simultan-cously ceiling the ends of the cut-stays around the strand-wire.

2. In a wire-fence machine, the combination of mechanism for continuously feeding a plurality of longitudinal strand-wires' with accelerated and retarded motion. mechanisni for continuously feeding a plurality of staywires diagonally between the strand-wires, mechanism for severing ,the forwardends of the said stay-wires to form cut-stays, and for swinging the opposite ends of the said cut-stays into contact with the opposite sides of the adjoining strand-wires, and mechanism for simultaneously coiling. the ends pf the cut-stays around the strand-wires;

3'. In a wire-fence-machine, the combination of mechanismlfor continuously feeding a plurality of lo-ngitudlnal strand-wlres wlth accelerated and retarded motlon, mechanism for continuously and simultaneously feeding a plurality ofstay-wires diagonally between the strand-wires` mechanism for simultaneously severing. the forward ends of the said stay-wires to form cut-stays, and for swingingA the opposite ends of said cut-stays into contact with the opposite sides ofthe adj oining strand-wires., and mechanism for simultaneously ceiling the ends of the cut-stays around the strand-Wires.

.tot denote relative positions, but' for'continuously and simultaneously feeding 4. In a wire-fence machine, the combina# tion of mechanism for continuously feeding a plurality of longitudinal strand-Wires with accelerated and retarded motion, mechanism a plurality of'stay-wires diagonally between,

but slightly removed from, the strand-wires,

accelerated and retarded motiommecha'nism for continuously and' simultaneously feeding a plurality of staywires diagonally between thestrand-wires, mechanism for simultaneously severing the forward-ends of the said stay-wires to form cut-'stays, without stopping the continuous feed of the said staywirc-s, and for swinging the opposite ends of said cut-stays into contact withthe opposite sides of the adjoining strand-wires,` and mechanism for -simultaneously coiling the ends of the cut-stays around tl 1e.strar 1d-4 wires.

6. In a wire-fence maithine` means for continuously feeding av Qlurality' of-stay wires diagonally between 'the strand-wires, means for cutting said staywires and then swinging the ends of each cut-stay section into contact with thezopposite sides of a pair of adjoining strand-wires, and `means for coiling the ends of the cut-stays around the strand-wires.

7. In a wire-fence. machine, means for continuously feedingand guiding a plurality of stay-wires diagonally between, and at slight distances from the strand-wires, means for simultaneously cutting the ends of the stay-wires, means for swinging the ends of the cut-stays into contact with the strand-wires, and means for coiling` the ends of the cut-stays around the strand-wires.

8. In a wire-fence machine means for feeding astay-wire above the coilers but o-ut of axial alinement therewith and diagonally between a pair of adjoining strand-wires, means for cutting said stay-wire and then swinging the ends of the -'cut-stay into contact with the opposite sides of a pair of adjoining strand-wires and over thev coilers, and means for coiling` the ends of the cutstav around the strand-wires.

9. In a wire-fence 4machine provided wit! a series of alined coilers, means for continuously advancing a plurality of longitudinal strand-wires therethrough with accelerated and retarded motion, means for continuously. feeding a plurality of stay-wires diagonally longitudinal. strand-wires` therethrough with accelerated and retarded speed, means fon.l

the corresponding strand-wires, andfor -into contact with the Strand-wires adjoining. them, and mechanism for coilmg the ends tact with the strand-wires, and means for strand-wires. t

10: Ina wire-fence machine, means :for contmuously feeding 'a plurality ofparallel ceiling the ends of the .cutstays faround the accelerated and retardedspeed, .means for 'continuously feeding a plurality of stay- `wires transversely of," andA diagonally between the adjoining strand-wires, ,but

.longitudinal 'strand-wires therethrough with- 75 slightly removed therefrom, means forl si'. 80 multaneously severing the. forward ends of said stay-wires to form.cut-stays 'of lengths slightly greaterthah rthedistances between the corresponding. -strand-wires, and for swinging the forward ends of said cut-stays l into contact with the adjoining strandfwires, n and mechanism for ceiling the ends vof said cut-stays around the strand-wires.r

11. In a wireffencegmachine, means for continuously feeding -al'plurality of parallel continuously feeding al plurality of staywires transversely of, and diagonally be tween the adjoining strand-wires, -but slightlyremoved therefrom, means for simultaneously severing the'forward ends 0f said stay-wires` to form out-staysy of lengths slightly greater than the distances between swinging the forward ends of said cut-stays into contact with the adjoining strand-wires,

means for opppositely and simultaneously swinging the otherends of said cutfstays of said cut-stays around the strand-wires.

12. In a wire-fence machine., means for-com tinuously feeding a plurality of parallel longitudinal strand-wirestherethrough with accelerated and retarded speed, means for consitely and' .simultaneously swinging the other ..4 ends of said cut-stays into-contact wltli the Y strand-wires adjoining them, and mechanism for coiling the ends n f said cutastnys around the strand-Wires (hiring the retarded movement thereof.

13. In a wre-ence-u1aulmi a series ot alined coilcrs, means fut stl'piyllitt iiizl tida vancing a plurality of sti" i1 Wires there? 

